Bales Family Genealogy & History

Robert Bales, born June 30, 1973, is an American former Army sniper known for the Kandahar massacre, where he murdered 16 Afghan civilians in 2012. He pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty and is serving a life sentence without parole. Bales enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2001, serving three tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, where he sustained injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. His military career was marked by criticism of Special Forces superiors and involvement in several incidents requiring police intervention. Bales's legal team is seeking a new trial, citing possible side effects of the anti-malaria drug mefloquine.

Bales was the youngest of five brothers, raised in Norwood, Ohio. He attended Norwood High School and later studied at Ohio State University, though he did not graduate. Before joining the Army, he worked as a stockbroker, co-founding Spartina Investments with his brother Mark. His transition to the military was influenced by a desire to make amends after the September 11 attacks, according to his brother-in-law.

Barry Turner Bales, born on August 23, 1969, is a celebrated American musician known for his long-standing role as the bass player and harmony vocalist with Alison Krauss and Union Station. With a career spanning over 25 years, Bales contributed to the Grammy-winning album "Paper Airplane" in 2012. A versatile session musician, he has collaborated with iconic artists such as Reba McEntire, Merle Haggard, Vince Gill, and Dolly Parton. Bales is also a member of The Earls of Leicester, further cementing his reputation in the bluegrass and acoustic music scenes.

Bales grew up in Colonial Heights, Tennessee, exposed to a rich musical heritage from his father’s collection of classic records. He currently lives in Greene County, Tennessee, with his wife Aliceson and their young son.

Alison Marie Bales, born April 4, 1985, is a former professional basketball player known for her impressive career in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She was drafted ninth overall by the Indiana Fever in 2007 and later played for teams such as the Atlanta Dream and Phoenix Mercury. Standing at 6'7", Bales made her mark as a center, becoming Duke University's all-time shot block leader and third in NCAA history. She set a Women's Tournament record in 2006 with 30 blocked shots. Bales retired in 2012 to pursue a medical career, completing her education at Boonshoft School of Medicine and specializing in Trauma and Critical Care Surgery.

Steve Bales, born on October 7, 1942, in Ottumwa, Iowa, is renowned for his critical role as a NASA engineer and flight controller during the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing. As a guidance officer (GUIDO), Bales played a pivotal role in ensuring the mission's success despite navigational errors and alarming program alerts from the guidance computer. His decision to proceed with the landing, supported by a team of engineers, was crucial. Bales' expertise and quick thinking earned him recognition, and he was honored with a NASA Group Achievement Award by President Richard Nixon. Throughout his illustrious career, Bales advanced to become Deputy Director of Operations at the Johnson Space Center before transitioning to Amspec Chemical in 1996.

Steve Bales grew up in Fremont, Iowa, where his father worked as a school janitor and his mother was a beautician. From a young age, Bales showed a keen interest in space, inspired by a television show on space travel, which ultimately influenced his decision to study aerospace engineering. Despite the rural, small-town setting, Bales pursued his passion and graduated from Iowa State University, launching a successful career at NASA.